SBIR-STTR Award

Continuous lateral move irrigators are the distinctly superior means of irrigating farmland. Presently, no means exists to affordably, reliability, and efficiently connect the laterally traveling irrigator with a stationary mainline. Consequently, most irrigation is presently accomplished with much less efficient means. Water, electricity and fertilizer are wasted resulting in reduced yield and groundwater pollution. The project objective is to prove operational the invention of a simple and reliable automated connector. One such connector has already been fabricated and 'bench' tested. The project begins by attaching this 'prototype' connector to a lateral move irrigator and installing a water supply mainline including spaced poppet valves. The irrigation system may then be tested to prove that a navigation system inherent to the invention is workable. A working navigation system will in turn then provide for successful location and coupling to each of the successive poppet valves. The project also serves to establish workable interaction between the connector and the water supply means.Applications:It is anticipated that a working example of a new and better irrigation means will result, with quite significant economic benefits for farmers and our country alike. Potentially, hundreds and some day thousands of these connectors may be marketed annually as new installations and replacements for aging and obsolete equipment.